Chalkhills Digest Volume 5, Issue 20
Date: Friday, 20 November 1998
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 5, Number 20
Friday, 20 November 1998
Today's Topics:
Fano Guitars Website Update
Andy's Real Dictionary and Yet Another Explanation of THE FEAR
TVT Security
Big Day
Lightening never strikes in the same place twice so don't move!
Re: O&L
That zany >> button
Re: Oranges & Lemons
Re: Oranges and Lemons
Re: Wanker Rotary Engine
Overproducers and such
wankers wanking...
EEK, O&L Again
Regarding ordering XTC over the internet.
appropriate commentary
The Inner Mounting Flame
Re: Brahms & Liszt
More stuff
Terry vs. Phil
Mummerings
xtc
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Music by the yard for the children they keep / Like poseable dolls.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: FANOGTRS@aol.com Message-ID: <dc0eefd5.36545486@aol.com> Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 12:25:26 EST Subject: Fano Guitars Website Update Hello! We have changed the layout of FanoGuitars.com and have added new pictures of Andy Partridge and Dave Gregory with their guitars, and David Yazbek with his Electric Mandocello. Please come by and visit. We will soon be adding pages for the newest additions to our Artist List...Chris Difford of Squeeze and Ed Robertson of Barenaked Ladies.... I will let you know when those are up. Thanks! www.FanoGuitars.com
------------------------------ Message-ID: <900822C71730D2118D8C00805F65765C1FD6FF@einstein.moneystar.com> From: Jill Oleson <oleson@moneystar.com> Subject: Andy's Real Dictionary and Yet Another Explanation of THE FEAR Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 11:48:14 -0600 With the imminent release of "My Dictionary" on the forthcoming "Apple Venus" album, I thought now would be a good time to pass the following Andy story on to you Chalkhills Children. Perhaps this will drag you away from your obsessions of bashing O&L and bashing other bold and clever posters whose notes I enjoy immensely. During their "Oranges and Lemons" _tour_ of the United States, XTC did an in-store visit at Waterloo Records in Austin, Texas. We got there early that afternoon to be sure not to miss the band. Sometimes bands perform a few songs in these in-store visits. I once saw Robyn Hitchcock there singing REM songs while Mike Mills playing acoustic guitar -- fabulous! Upon entering the store, we saw that each of the three members of the band were standing behind separate counters in different parts of the large room. In front of each guy was a line of locals standing politely waiting their turn. Screaming BehJesus I thought, they're signing autographs and really talking with their fans! I had already seen them in concert twice (Drums and Wires and Black Sea tours), so this arrangement seemed even better to me. Having a fear of public speaking AND having had more than a few goons land on my head as they stage-dived during shows of ever-increasing violence, I completely understood why Andy chose not to perform before a crowd any more. Or at least I thought I understood. Dave Gregory's line was the shortest, by just a few people, so I went there first. He was SO NICE. I remember asking him if XTC was ever going to tour again. He said that he would like to, but then nodding his head in Andy's direction, he added that Andy was the one we needed to convince. (Okay, I'll try that, I said to myself!) Then, I did the unthinkable. I asked him if he would pose for a picture. He smiled and said, sure. Then I upped the ante. Would you pose with my Mr. Nixon doll? I had made a three-foot paper doll of President Richard Nixon. My Mr. Nixon doll had gone on many adventures and I wrote illustrated stories about them. Sweet Dave held the doll up high next to his face. As he peered over Mr. Nixon's shoulder (a clothes hanger covered in a white t-shirt that said "BUILD THE MUSEUM NOW!"), I snapped the Polariod. We talked nonsense for a minute while the photo developed and then chuckled at how funny it was. He autographed the picture "Dave Gregory + friend." I was thrilled. I went off to Colin's line next. My God, what incredible hair that man has! He was just as nice as Dave, but in a more quiet, subdued kind of way. I told him that I had enjoyed "Oranges and Lemons" a lot, but that the Dukes of Stratosphere stuff was the best! He said that they had really enjoyed making those albums and might do more later. I asked in a round-about way if they had any sort of chemical inspiration for turning toward psychedelia. I think I mentioned the Beatles and their well- documented forays into drugs. He shook his brown locks left and right and said no. Definitely not. Drugs were not the inspiration. For some reason, I wanted not to believe him (yes, that's my problem), but I did. I understood then that the joy of exploring that style of music was the sole inspiration for the Dukes. I asked Colin if I could take his picture. He had seen Dave posing with Mr. Nixon. For a split second, he turned bashful, but then with an encouraging word from Dave, he held the doll up and bared his teeth in a full-blown grin. Yes, both uppers and lowers are showing in this pic. He signed his name after the Polariod dried and I thanked him for being such a good sport. On to Andy. By now, the music store had gotten quite crowded and Andy's line was a bit longer. The crowd was a noticeably noisier too. As I neared the counter, I saw a girl that I had met at a party a couple of weeks before. She had quite a reputation for being a coke-head. This was in the days before crack cocaine took over the drug scene, so I'm talking white powder lines here. From the looks of things, she looked pretty coked up right then. I ignored her. When it was my turn to talk with Andy, I asked him about touring again, as I had promised myself to do. He had a we'll-see attitude about that. I told him how much I had enjoyed the radio interview they had done that morning on one of our local stations. The coked-up girl behind me hears me say this. She rushes up to the counter and starts screaming at Andy, "A radio interview!!! What station was it? What station was it?" He says he doesn't remember -- they've done so many interviews in the last few weeks. I'll tell her it was KLBJ, our station named for President Lyndon Baines Johnson, who was born in a small town just outside of Austin. She doesn't hear me. This girl is relentless. She doesn't listen. "What station was it? What station was it? I'VE GOT TO KNOW!" She's yelling at him again -- more aggressively. I'm feeling the rush of cocaine in HER body. Again, Andy says he doesn't remember. "K-something," he adds this time. (Well, half the radio stations in the United States have call letters that start with the letter K.) I tell her again it was KLBJ. She's still not listening. "Was it KHFI?, she yells, "Was it KLBJ? I"VE GOT TO KNOW!" I'm thinking the other people in the line are going to kill her. Andy releases a big sigh and says, "It was probably KUNT." OH-MY-GOD. I can't believe he has said this to her. What a horrible thing to say... just horrible. BUT, NO WAIT! She deserved it! She completely deserved it. I'm embarrassed for her nonetheless. I'm embarrassed for everyone there. I'm embarrassed for my entire home town. And in that moment, I realize an even better reason for Andy not wanting to tour. Some of his fans are nuts. More than mentally unbalanced, they're scary. Downright scary. This girl doesn't even hear him call her a cunt. Somebody else in line pushes her back and Andy returns his gaze to me. He offers to pose for a picture with Mr. Nixon and seems to enjoy it a lot. He holds the doll up high with one hand and flashes a peace sign with the other. After the photo dries, he signs it at the bottom and draws a small goatee on his chin and a flower on the doll's t-shirt. I say thank you and leave him to fend off the other fanatics on his own. He can handle it. He just won't enjoy it. I guess this is part of why I wished I hadn't read "Song Stories." I don't want to be that kind of fan. I don't want to be a fanatic. I want to enjoy the music, but not in an obsessive kind of way. Sometimes I question why I joined Chalkhills at all. I've justified it to myself as an opportunity to have discussions with interesting people. It has been my experience that most of the genuinely interesting people in my life also happen to like XTC. The other reason I wished I hadn't read the book is that I felt no real sense of joy from the band at their accomplishments. I am so proud of them for the music they've achieved, yet I didn't get a sense from the book that they share that same pride. I didn't get a sense from the book that they'd experienced any real joy in their creative process at all. It makes me sad. Jill Oleson
------------------------------ Message-ID: <MAPI.Id.0016.00746166666f72643030303830303038@MAPI.to.RFC822> From: "Stafford" <stafford@gtii.com> Subject: TVT Security Date: Thu, 19 Nov 98 13:13:22 PST I talked to the webmaster at TVT's site. He said that some of the graphics that are on the website make that error message come up and that anyone buying the Transistor Blast from the site will have no problems with the security of their credit cards. I bought a couple of copies myself, I looked over the security first on my own, and it seems he is correct. It is the graphics from XTC that are not secure...so anyone can view these. So...if you would like to pre-order your copy of Transistor Blast from TVT you will be safe. The note I got from them said I would have my copy within 2 weeks (I can't wait!) Lisa Stafford
------------------------------
Message-Id: <199811192148.WAA04672@mail.knoware.nl>
From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl>
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 22:54:34 +0000
Subject: Big Day
Dear Chalkers,
First of all many many thanks to Dave G. for the Dobbin badge
(Dobbin is the E.S. horsey). He actually bought this treasure
at XTC's last gig in San Diego, 1982 and that of course makes it even
more special for this old trainspotter.
And today I also received my copies of Transistor Blast (UK edition)
and it's a corker!
By far the most attractive 'product' they've ever released, with
proper liner notes and nice introductions by Colin & Andy.
And the radio styled packaging is just dead gorgeous, with the four
silk-screened discs in translucent, neon coloured cd-trays.
I'll try to put some of the artwork etc on my site ASAP
My only gripe is that "they" decided not to include all the songs
from the 1978 & 79 live shows at the Hippodrome and Paris Theatre
Those songs would fit on one cd, so why not? Of course the setlists
are quite similar, but nobody is going to buy this boxset except
the die-hard fans. And they don't mind ! (or do we?)
Anyway, it's great so get it or force your parents to buy it as a
Xmas present. Let's get some money in their pockets so we might
get to hear Apple Venus Volume Two
(are they really going to use these titles? i sincerely hope not...)
PS: the T.B. box also holds a registration card for Cooking Vinyl's
mailing list for "priority information on forthcoming releases
including the new XTC album to be released in Spring 1999"
SPRING??? Hold on, whatever happened to January?
yours in xtc,
Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse
http://www.knoware.nl/users/mmello/
or http://come.to/xtc
------------------------------ Message-ID: <8191BF798BAFD111817B0001FA0E3A5777D823@ZSCED004> From: "ARCHER-MAY,Mark" <Mark.ARCHER-MAY@deetya.gov.au> Subject: Lightening never strikes in the same place twice so don't move! Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1998 09:20:02 +1000 Just a brief note of complete Trivia. 1) I was listening to "Fly on the wall" the other day when the words "I see the money, the pennies you save, stored on computers from birth to the grave the fly on the wall he's seeing it all" brought back a brief memory. A show that we have here in Australia called the "Money" program did a report on Swindon which is one of the testing grounds for the new cashless society. Put a little card into an automatic teller or telephone and have it charged with money from your account then spend it in the shops. It looks as though the "Fly" has come to Colin's home town in a big way. 2) Reading an interesting book called Ex-Libris, the main character runs a bookshop called the "Nonsuch Bookshop" and one of the main characters has the initials of A.P. As I said complete trivia.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 14:30:31 -0800 (PST)
From: Davy Jonestown Massacre <jemiah@q7.com>
Subject: Re: O&L
Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.3.96.981119142622.2128A-100000@q7.q7.com>
Gee whilikers, I haven't posted in about two years, but I can't believe
some of the things you 'Hillers say about O&L. I mean, damn. It's not my
favorite, but "One of the Millions" is one of my favourite Colin whinges
(up there with "Living in a Smokeless Zone") and "Across this antheap" is
one of their songs to conmpletely sum up my particular misanthropy.
I just got Drums & Wires again (gimme a break, my house burnt down, taking
my coveted batch of XTC early demos and albums with it -- "O&L" was one of
the THREE tapes that survived and I'm slowly getting everything back) and
I appreciate it now so much more now that I've been through Eno's rock
albums.
That is all. Back to deleting 90% of my Chalkhills digests. If I was on
realtime I'd write a lot more often Hi John!
------------------------------------------
Alizarine jemiah@q7.com
"I'm a binge writer." -- Hunter S. Thompson
------------------------------
Message-Id: <3.0.1.32.19981119173703.007cd610@mail.clemson.edu>
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 17:37:03 -0500
From: Adam Tyner <ctyner@CLEMSON.EDU>
Subject: That zany >> button
>I don't know about YOUR CD, Steve, but once I've gotten to "Books Are
>Burning", I don't need to hit the >> button, 'cause it's the last song
>on MY CD. I only need to hit STOP - which I never do. :-)
Steve may be like me -- I rarely listen to CDs in anything but "shuffle"
mode, where the >> button comes in handy, even for the last track... :-)
-Adam
--
/=---------------- http://www.he-man.org/ctyner/ ----------------=\
http://www.crystal-night.com/~ctyner/
http://www.awod.com/gallery/rwav/ctyner/
He-Man, Tuscadero, "Weird Al", Yoo-hoo, Killer Tomatoes, & more!
------------------------------ From: "Jim McGowan" <jmcgowan@cms.dbc.com> Subject: Re: Oranges & Lemons Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 14:58:42 -0800 Message-ID: <000001be1410$2787dc40$df0bd9c7@jmcgowan.dbc.com> In Chalkhills #5-19, Duncan Kimball <dunks58@hotmail.com> writes: > 1. I'm astounded ... there are actually people who *don't* like Oranges > & Lemons???? Inconceivable!! I must admit I hadn't really thought about > the "sheeny" production aspect, other than presuming it was part of the > whole quasi-psychedelic tone of the album ... like having a great > psychedelic record with GOOD production, instead of we usually got from > that era, with everything compressed to within a semi-tone of its life. Actually, the compression on O&L is, to my ears, one of the things that severely dulls the album. The overall sound is excessively processed. Compare the album's feel to that of Black Sea or ES. I definitely prefer the latter's big, live-room warmth. (I don't even think they're real drums on O&L. Anybody know?) In short, I dislike the production but still place O&L ahead of Mummer and Big Express on the strength and variety of the tunes. As for psychedelic, I know of this band called the Dukes of Stratosphear that had *the* definitive psychedelic sound... (heh!) - Jim
------------------------------ Message-Id: <4.1.19981119145759.019de4e0@mail1.electric.net> Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 15:02:52 -0800 From: David Hathaway <davidh@electric.net> Subject: Re: Oranges and Lemons At 01:50 PM 11/19/98 -0800, you wrote: allo all chalksters... >From: "Duncan Kimball" <dunks58@hotmail.com> >1. I'm astounded ... there are actually people who *don't* like Oranges >& Lemons???? Inconceivable!! I must admit I hadn't really thought about And since I haven't posted in an eon, yet still read the list every single time it comes in, I'll comment for a change and throw my voice in for the many people who would seem to agree... Oranges and Lemons is a great album, chock full of great songs, and, as someone else notes with apparent glee, is easily in my top five favorite XTC albums, where "The Big Express" and "Black Sea" often duke it out for a billing... my 2cents canadian. |We've all heard that a million monkeys banging on a million |typewriters will eventually reproduce the works of Shakespeare. |Now, thanks to the Internet, we know this is not true. | http://www.monkey-boy.com |David Hathaway, CEO Of monkey-boy industries, davidh@monkey-boy.com
------------------------------ Message-ID: <00a401be1410$f028f1c0$995808c3@default> From: "Squidly" <squidly@clara.net> Subject: Re: Wanker Rotary Engine Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 23:04:13 -0000 >Andrea , I'll never forget watching an old episode of Happy Days when I >was about 16 years old. Being a Brit, I almost choked on my Welsh >Rarebit (!) when a character came on and Richie introduced him to his >mum with the immortal words " mom , this is Arnold Wanker.". This also happened in Mork and Mindy. Mindy's landlord was called "Mr. Wanker"....and he was, too! Love Will.....xx A Home-page of sorts is at :- http://www.squidly.clara.net/ HOBLINK for LGB Pagans information at HOBLINK@squidly.clara.net Casualty mailing list at holby-subscribe@egroups.com *NEW* Hollyoaks Chat at Hollyoaks-subscribe@e.groups.com
------------------------------ Message-ID: <2043F72A2C73D2119D5B0008C74CA17B02D7F5@azmail.rjconsult.com> From: "Miller, Ed" <emiller@rjconsult.com> Subject: Overproducers and such Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 16:26:52 -0600 Hello, Chalk Full o' Nuts... In a recent Chalkhills, our fabled interlocutor, Sherrison Harwood asked that we more precisely define "overproduced." Okay. I'm game. Overproduced -- "Music that sounds like the Oranges and Lemons discusion on Chalkhills." Minimalistically yours, ed
------------------------------
Message-ID: <900822C71730D2118D8C00805F65765C1FD70C@einstein.moneystar.com>
From: Jill Oleson <oleson@moneystar.com>
Subject: wankers wanking...
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 18:00:29 -0600
Jesus! You people sure know a lot about
wankers and wanking..
I wonder why...
...oh, no I don't.
------------------------------ From: MrsHugh@aol.com Message-ID: <bcf41a4d.3654b163@aol.com> Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 19:01:39 EST Subject: EEK, O&L Again Chalkers, I have to add again to the O&L debate. When I first got O&L I mainly got it because, "The Mayor of Simpleton". But when I listened to it I loved it. I even got some of my college friends liking it. One of my friends loved, "The Garden of Earthly Delights". As I said before, I don't care whether an album is "overproduced", because I buy an album for the music, not the production. Am I the only person who doesn't hate any of the XTC albums, except for White Music. It just doesn't sound like their best album, but it was their first album, and a lot of time first albums aren't that great. The whole O&L debate just made me started thinking why the hatefulness. If you don't like O&L (or any XTC album) don't listen to it. I don't listen to White Music, because I traded it in to a used CD place. Oooh, I must be a bad person for doing that. I hope someone else can enjoy it more than I would. Why should I keep something I don't listen to. I'm not that type of person who keeps all of their albums. If I don't like something I'll get rid of it. But that doesn't make me a bad person, does it? Sorry, I didn't mean to ramble on like that. Molly Molly's Pages: http://www.angelfire.com/mo/mollyfa/index.html IRC Name: MrsHugh E-mail: MrsHugh@aol.com
------------------------------ From: "Damian Foulger" <damian@imclaser.com> Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 18:10:24 -0600 Subject: Regarding ordering XTC over the internet. Message-Id: <19981119180117.eefbe99b.in@ceo.ceolasers.com> Why worry about people getting hold of your Credit Card details. No one does over the phone. Even if someone does, just tell the Card company, sign a form saying that if wasn't you and they give your money back. Buy XTC, support the band. Dames tWd * -------------------------------------------------- Dr. Damian Foulger Cutting Edge Optronics, Inc. 20 Point West Boulevard, St. Charles, MO 63301 Tel. (314) 916-5599 #323, Fax. (314) 916-4994
------------------------------ Message-ID: <36542824.4B23372E@mailbox.syr.edu> Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 09:16:09 -0500 From: Paul Brantley <pebrantl@mailbox.syr.edu> Organization: Syracuse University Subject: appropriate commentary adsopfiuasdfopiuwerkjhkaj ghasdg[poiusdgkl;jhwe rthjasdfopiuasdkjhwetjkhaospidgaksjdhglksjdhg0 ouerlkwerlkjglkahsdglkhsdfpoisdflwkjeht-weit; alsklxkchblkuwopeiuweoihaskljdhnzxkcjnvoasidjv paosifwoeihkhashjkdva;skjdh. weoriu, opuirnt
------------------------------ Message-ID: <3654D1C4.53E2@sprintmail.com> Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 21:19:49 -0500 From: Michael Versaci <stormymonday@sprintmail.com> Organization: Stormy Monday Enterprises Subject: The Inner Mounting Flame Folxtc, (My apologies to Mr. Relph) In his expected reply to my "searing indictment", Dom posted the following: > As for the rest of your searing indictment - heard it all before, and most > of it is nonsense. If you payed attention you might actually understand what > I'm on about, but no, you'd rather adopt the traditional knee-jerk pomposity > that precludes anyone from being "off-message". And, for the thousandth > time, I care not whether you are "hip" or not. I'm not that fashionable > myself, and have no desire to be. If you don't like Hip Hop then, IMO, you > are missing out on some truly thrilling music & lyrics. That's all. I've been posting for over two years now, and those that know me (I used to post under my e-mail name "Stormy Monday") know that I've been known to go off topic, I've posted some pretty negative opinions about other artists, and I do pay attention. So Dom, here is my explanation as to why I went off on you the way that I did. Here is what you had to say back in May of this year: > (iii) Much as I've enjoyed discovering a world of fellow XTC fans, I have > been a little disturbed by the somewhat narrow musical view shared by many > of you. As a proud fan of heavy metal, hip hop, various strands of dance > music and pretty much anything with imagination, I'm puzzled as to why > everyone seems to be solely into white, commercial, adult-orientated pop > music, albeit of an often vaguely quirky nature. Acoustic guitars are not > necessarily a prerequisite for good music, and nor is sounding like The > Beatles. TMBG are a prime example. This is what conservative people > consider to be "left of centre" music. The term "alternative" is redundant > and has been for years, and it's no wonder, if people won't broaden their > minds beyond catchy tunes and "things that sound a bit like XTC". Now, I really didn't care so much, considering you were eight years old when "Black Sea" was released. I've got better things to do then get offended over anything that anyone says in this newsletter, let alone a kid that was still in diapers when I was playing my first gigs. But anyone that makes an entrance like that has got to expect, indeed wants some attention. So, along comes Harrison Sherwood and responds with a well conceived answer to your ignorant musings. (Before you get too defensive, look it up, because you are obviously ignorant if you believe the claptrap that you posted on that day. I'm 41 years old. You can't possibly imagine all of the music that I've been exposed to and I've loved in my lifetime.) Since that time, you have pounced on virtually everything the man has written, like you've got to something to prove. I've heard that your reasoning goes something like "people are intimidated from posting because of people like Harrison." While this may be true, (and if it is, that isn't his fault) I haven't known Mr. Sherwood to mercilessly hound anyone the way that you've been hounding him. If you're so worried about people being intimidated, why are you so inflammatory? The last straw (aeroplane) for me was when you commented on this item from Mr. Sherwood: >>I don't know which was tougher--getting a word in >>edgewise through the brittle banter, so reminiscent of the Algonquin Round >>Table in its heyday, or the Yankee Pot Roast I ordered. And your comments: >Firstly, I find the idea of Harrison struggling to get a word in edgewise >(or edgeways if you'd rather use the right word) fairly hysterical. Nearly >choked on my conceit. Secondly, you fucking wish, pal. Alexander Woollcott >would have chewed you up and spat you out as if you were mere muesli and >the fact that you even attempt such a comparison just goes to show that you're >probably a Marx Bros fan and therefore an intelligent and cultured kinda >guy. Oops, that didn't go to plan.........shit. Clearly, Harrison was not implying that he himself was on par with the "Algonquin Round Table", and your "You fucking wish pal" crap in my estimation was completely uncalled for. Seems like maybe you were projecting here. Moreover, your feeble attempt at being pedantic was misguided; edgewise and edgeways are synonymous. Yeah, I know the Brits favor "edgeways" but the fact remains that both are equally acceptable. I really don't care what anyone else thinks about Phil Collins. I think "Take Me Home" is one helluva record with a beautiful background vocal track courtesy of Peter Gabriel. You and Catherine Sweeney and everyone else that felt compelled to write about Phil Collins are obviously free to hate his music and call it shite. I think "Another Day In Paradise" was one of the worst records ever recorded. My message to you is this: You have every right to say whatever you want, but when you antagonize people, expect them to respond in kind. Michael "Stormy Monday" Versaci "Strike up the band love, and let the show begin, For this is the last time, I'm painting on a grin" Andy Partridge "A-ya-ya-ya-ya ya-ya-ya-ya New Orleans A-ya-ya-ya-ya ya-ya-ya-ya Evergreens" Johnny Rotten
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v01540b04b27a895d2993@[139.80.100.99]> Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1998 15:55:13 +1300 From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan) Subject: Re: Brahms & Liszt >From: Kyle melancon <babyloco@zoommusic.com> Hi Kyle >One last thing: Is "Brahms and Liszt" British slang for being EXTREMELY >drunk? you've heard of Cockney Rhyming Slang? "Plates of meat" is slang for "feet", "apples and pears" for "stairs", etc? Well, "Brahms and Liszt" is the rhyming slang for "pissed", which in ther UK means drunk, rather than angry [1]. James (originally from Barnet, and yes, he has long hair [2]) [1] I wonder if Americans think "pissed as a newt" means "as angry as the speaker of the house" :) [2] "Barnet fair" = "hair" in C.R.S.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19981120030932.19512.qmail@hotmail.com> From: "Amanda Owens" <daveizgod@hotmail.com> Subject: More stuff Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 19:09:32 PST And now for some responses: Rich doth say: > Am I the only person on this newsgroup that feels that The Big >Express is one of the best albums crafted by mortal man? It's a great >combination of the early jerky XTC and the later poppy XTC. The singles >and album tracks are pretty much ALL great off of it. You are definitely not the only one. TBE is my favorite album on a lyrical quality. I think Andy was in top form on this one. > Grass wins. Sorry, personal opinion. Amen brother! Tis all for now, Amanda C. Owens "People will always be tempted to wipe their feet on anything with welcome written on it."-Andy Partridge XTC song of the day-Burning With Optimism's Flame non XTC song-Sympathy for the Devil-Rolling Stones
------------------------------ Message-ID: <36550AA3.A1112817@zoommusic.com> Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1998 00:22:34 -0600 From: Kyle melancon <babyloco@zoommusic.com> Subject: Terry vs. Phil All this talk about Phil Collins...What about a TRULY great drummer like Terry Chambers? Not only was he a great vocalist (you can check out his pipes on the chourus of "My Weapon" and "Goodnight Sucker") but Whatta Drinker!!! Any British drummer of any consequence was pissed virtually 24 hours a day. Ringo, John Bonham, Keith Moon, Bill Ward...Terry Chambers!...All SERIOUS alcohol abusers, all geniuses in their chosen field. Coincidence? I think not. Phil strikes me as a cupofteabeforeslippingintobed-type which, as I have previously stated, is fundamentally NOT rock and roll, much less "genius". He may very well be a better DRUMMER than Terry, but that's hardly the point. Suppose a brawl erupts in a pub, and your choice of fighting partners is Terry or Phil...Who do you choose? Terry, of course!!! Phil might startle the opponent briefly with a rambling diatribe on Tony Blair, but Terry would've sennt three people to the hospital by then, Phil included!!! Think about it... Genius comes in many forms, you just have to know where to look for it. God bless you Mr. Chambers!! Thank you..and goodnight...
------------------------------ From: Adamette1@aol.com Message-ID: <8203c192.36550a5b@aol.com> Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1998 01:21:15 EST Subject: Mummerings In Chalkhills Volume 5 Number 17, Will Writes: Haven't bought a klunker yet, consider them all essential. We'll see what happens with Mummer next... I strongly encourage you to take your own advice where it concerned the Big Express, and go out and buy Mummer. A classic album in every sense, and the home of my personal favorite XTC song, "Funk Pop A Roll," it should NOT be overlooked. You obviously have the ears for appreciating XTC's sound, now go do yourself a favor and pick up one of my top three favorite XTC offerings (Go2 and "The Dukes" are the others).To help motivate you, the following track listing/review: Beating of Hearts -- Awesome! Wonderland -- Awesome! Love on a Farmboy's wages -- Awesome! Great Fire -- Awesome! Frost Circus -- Fair (not on original LP) Jump -- Excellent! Toys -- Good Gold -- Good+ Procession Towards Learning Land -- Awkward at best Desert Island -- Awesome! Human Alchemy -- Excellent! Ladybird -- Classic! In Loving Memory of a Name -- Awesome! Me and the Wind -- Awesome! Funk Pop A Roll -- Simply my top pick for favorite XTC song! So in review, the "not intended for release" middle of the CD is shaky but the bookends are worth every penny! My two cents regarding O&L....I agree with previous comments regarding too much polish...especially the comment about how it is so overpolished that it no longer "sticks," an intersting image....but here's some other points that I thought should be made. 1)We've heard these lyrical sentiments (Mayor of simpleton, Cynical Days) in XTC songs BEFORE O&L came out. Agreed that "spike" had more to offer the listener in 1989 than O&L in terms of original sound, lyrical content. 2)What was intially stated was that O&L is XTC's worst album (which automatically means that it is in the top 1% of all albums put out in the past 20 years), not the worst album overall! It was frustrating reading entry after entry describing why O&L is a great album. Of course it is great, but in light of everthing else they did, I can see O&L being their worst. Truth be known, I think Nonsuch (Smartest Monkeys, Dissapointed, That Wave) is the worst XTC album (which, again means it still kicks the ass of 99% of the schlock that is typically put to record). Go Go2! Patrick
------------------------------ Message-Id: <s655468d.085@parliament.uk> Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1998 10:36:49 +0000 From: Dominic Lawson <LAWSOND@parliament.uk> Subject: xtc David says: >>xtc is the band, xtc is the music. let's stay on the correct subject... Ooh, sorry! Blimey, that told us. Ben Says: >>Didn't Phil Collins play drums on Tears for Fears' "The Seeds of Love"? Mmm. That's a good -- overproduced -- album! GRRRrrrrrr!!! NNggghhhh!! but also says: >>Steve Lillywhite remains, in my mind, the world's best producer...He brings an energy to songs that I find astounding. Ample evidence of this is available on Morrissey's "My Early Burglary Years," his recent collection of singles and B-sides..."Sunny" and "Swallow on my Neck" are pure gold. I can't agree about Lilywhite, although he is a superb producer on the whole, but I have to agree about the mighty Mozzer's more recent material. "Vauxhall & I", "Southpaw Grammar" and "Maladjusted" are all top notch Moz action. Is the collection your mention only available in the US? I've not seen it over here.... Producer-wise I would go for one from John Leckie, Jim Thirlwell or Tim Smith...Hmmm. >>I'm astounded ... there are actually people who *don't* like Oranges & Lemons???? Well, possibly, but I think people are getting a bit hysterical over nothing. From what I've read, it seems that many of us find the production a bit too glossy - epitomised by that hideous synth brass - but I've not noticed anyone dissing the songs to any great extent. "Oranges & Lemons" is a great record. It's an XTC record, for a start and even though it's not one of my favourites, it's still chuffing marvellous (especially the guitar solo on "Pink Thing"). >>But I acknowledge that he's a talented guy, and millions of people think he's way cool. They do? Jesus, we are in trouble. Way shit, more like. Michael says: >>Now, now Dom, I bet you'd start slagging Colin and Andy too if they started selling of millions of records, wouldnt ya? No. Not unless they started selling millions of AWFUL records. Which is highly unlikely. >>I really like some of the things Phil Collins has done. Yes. I particularly enjoyed his recent attempt to "redefine" his music, by adopting the highly original and rarely attempted World Music approach to his emotionally sterile and largely dim-witted drivel. Seeing him on Top Of The Pops trying to dance in an "ethnic" fashion, surrounded by an embarrassed looking brass section was one of the funniest things I've ever seen. Imagine being even more contrived than Paul Simon, AND ten years too late! Twat. I also thoroughly enjoyed his drumming on "Puss'n Boots" by Adam Ant, but then I was eleven at the time. I'm better now. >>I'll even go as far as to say that I think Selling By The Pound is just about one of the best records ever made. Fair enough. I think you might be missing the point slightly though. Early Genesis, i.e. before Collins started squawking through his anus, made some terrific records. The one you mention and "The Lamb Lies..." are corkers. Here's the facts...Peter Gabriel GOOD Phil Collins BAD. Mind you, Gabriel has released some stinkers in recent years as well, but at least he doesn't pretend to understand the plight of the homeless. "Passion" was ace as well. Anyway, I'm a Marillion fan so what do I know? (Am I joking? Frankly, who cares...) >>I never cared much for Jimi Hendrix either, but he was a pretty fair guitarist. Yes, I think you blew it with that one. "Fair?". That's like saying that Idi Amin was a bit unreasonable. Come on, Hendrix was unique - a phenomenally talented player who could do things with a guitar that people are still trying to replicate thirty years later. No one is disputing Collins' drumming abilities, but drummers should know their place and not try to terrify us for decades with their bald-headed, right-wing, piss-thin attempts at music. Just ask Roger Taylor. >>I KNOW full-well what a wanker is.A wanker is a happy love toy. let us move on! Err, no it isn't. Is anyone else getting scared? Mummy! Finally, what a relief it was to find that "Transistor Blast" is being sold at such a reasonable price. I had visions of having to shell out #40 or something hideous, but at #22 (Our Price Records) it's a veritable snip. It's a shame I'm totally potless after buying the new RZA album. Still, Christmas is mere weeks away and as far as I know, my parents still quite like me. Here's hoping (and that goes for the book too...) Cheers. Dom.
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